Crews Raise Bay Bridge Tower Today
Wednesday is a big day for the new Bay Bridge construction project. Project spokesman Bart Ney tells KCBS that at 4 a.m. crews began lifting into place the huge lower section of the main, single suspension tower that will eventually support the elevated roadway.
"We're lifting a 1,200 ton piece of steel on the water," said Ney. "It's lifted up and placed right on top of the foundation that was constructed for it, but also figuratively, this signifies the beginning of the iconic parts of the bridge coming to fruition here in the bay."
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The tower, which is actually four towers bolted together, will be tipped up and slipped onto over 400 rods sticking up from the concrete footing near the water level. The tower is so tall that it will reach almost all the way up to the existing Bay Bridge deck.
Ney says the lift will take about 12 hours to complete, but it could be delayed if it gets too windy.
If all goes well, crews will spend the next several months securing the tower. In October, the next section will be placed on top of that tower, sending it soaring well above the old Bay Bridge.
Ney says the project is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2013.
